BREAK THROUGH YOUR GLASS CEILING

Goals are set in dreams and forged in stardust. Overtime, due to rejection, pain and anger, they harden into glass. Float is my visual depiction of breaking my personal Glass Ceiling. It’s hovered over me my whole life. It’s time to break through.

For every Breakthrough Moment shared by a visitor to this site, a crack will appear and a shard will fall. Together, we can break through The Glass Ceiling.

I’m a survivor. I survived a broken home, alcoholic father, abusive childhood and later abusive relationships (I’m a slow learner, it took 2 doozies before I saw I wasn’t the problem). I’m not a victim. I’ve never played the victim card, because that would be letting the bastards win. But, inspite of my strength, I have PTSD, atypical mood disorder, social anxiety and depression (which is caused by my anxiety).

In late 2015 I started experiencing panic attacks in public settings…with my young son around me…and that scared me more because at times I may not be able to focus on him and save myself from myself. I asked for help. I saw a professional paid to handle people like me whose head isn’t working properly.

And I talk about my issues. They aren’t my dirty secret, they are like scars and I name and talk about my scars. So I talk. I’m opening with my friends and family about my anxiety and PTSD. Because I refuse to feel as if I deserve this, I don’t. — Rea

I wish I could tell you that I had an, “A-HA!” Moment where everything fell into place and I was on my feet again…But that isn’t the case. I have a lot of down days where I have to tell myself over and over and over that I’m going to be okay. There are wars waging in my thoughts, mostly against myself, but I wake up every day and I keep trying. I fight my fight every day because deep down I know I can overcome and put the broken pieces of my life back together. There are days where the panic and infinite sadness take over and I’m crippled, there are also days where I’m high functioning with anxiety. I may never find balance and I’m beginning to accept that. Maybe that will be my moment this year. Maybe I can reach self-acceptance. — Crystal

“I have spent the past few years exerting myself beyond reason to appear normal. It worsened when I decidedo to venture out into the workforce. After being a hermit for 15 years pretty much. I decided to hit hints head on. It appeared I did well while inside I became a diamond of anxiety, frustration, sadness and anger. I would unleash it upon myself constantly, analyzing every movement and word said to see if I appeared okay. More often than not I found fault and berated myself. Today I am taking things one at a time and learning to break the self destructive thought loop that place me below everyone and everything. I am slowly adjusting and learning how to be happy again. Today I genuinely laughed at a joke and it felt good to not pretend for my mental audience.” — Heather

“When after multiple relapses of multiple physical limitations, I realized that whether confined to a bed, a wheelchair, needing various equipment or a caretaker to see, or even to breathe that I did not have to confine my self to sleep and internal dialogue alone. If I could escape the physical on more than one occasion, which I did. That in spite of relapses or new problems arising from medications, these I could deal with and have. That isolation was not necessary when it came to minds and voices, even when it was in order to avoid infection. We make the mistake so often of thinking we are our bodies, when the body is simply the vessel we live in.” — Tauna

“I was 18 when I had my first anxiety attack. I am now 54 and I am the child of an alcoholic/domestic violence survivor. I have been through counseling. I have PTSD, depression and anxiety. Breakthrough moment, honestly I think when my doctor put me on medication about two years ago. It’s still a battle but I am so much better. I am a work in progress. Keep strong!” — Deborah

“These breakthrough moments are now coming fast and furious, thanks to your putting yourself out there. Makes it ok for me to do the same. The very latest happened just this afternoon, which I also posted in a different forum of your’s. I takes naps every day, due to sensory issues and help with being overloaded. So often, once I’m lying down, my heart would start pounding – I could even feel my carotid artery in my neck throbbing madly . This would be following but waves of dread and sadness. As I mentioned in my other post, today I thought, huh, maybe this isn’t a weird hormonal issue. Maybe it’s a kind of panic attack. I try to breathe through it but today I finally just had to get up and take a hot shower. But now that I realize what I believe it really is, I feel I can figure out how to get through it or address it. Thank you, Howie.” — Allison

“Going for a walk (with or without music) has helped for me to clear my mind, along with tiring me out to calm racing thoughts. Over the last two years since my mother’s passing I’ve also taken up trying my hand at chainmaille jewelry. While a project may annoy me in the process, once I have it done the satisfaction of finishing and creating something is amazingly satisfying. Having that something else to focus on has been a game changer a number of times.” — Sandra

“I don’t feel that I’ve broken through either. Coincidentally, as I write this I’m in the midst of a bad one. Perhaps it’s fateful that I’ve seen this page at this time. I know that a support system is important for people like us, but do not have one…partly because of people who could not or would not understand but also because dealing with those kind of people has taught me to curl up tighter by myself and hope the storm breaks. I am glad you have found a ray of sunshine, a lady to help you let the sunshine in, and a way to bring light to those of us that fight it as well. Looking forward to seeing how this work unfolds. And that it helps many.” — Jennifer

“The pain and utter despair of one’s own crippling self-doubt is best combatted by creation. I have found that the literal creation of music, making something exist in a physical form by hitting a drum, strumming a chord, or singing a note; shatters that crippling self-doubt – that one loud voice that shreaks at all hours of the day and night. With my small voice alone, I am nothing. By creating loudly into space, I can drown self-doubt. This is why I won’t ever stop creating.” — Shaun

“I began trying everything that interested me, even if only once. I tried even though there was a nagging lit in my stomach telling me I would fail. Because of this, I found many new hobbies that I can occupy my time with, hobbies that allow me to turn my ever racing brain off for even a few moments.” — Robyn

“I haven’t had a breakthrough moment. I still struggle daily with my anxieties. I’ve lost friends and a relationship because of this. I am coping through other avenues but I remind myself every day that..I’m not alone..there are others like me. It’s all in my head. Thank you my silent support team. Knowing others like me are out there really helps.” — Samantha

“When my anxiety was at its worst, I found daily walks to be the best therapy for me. It was an outlet to help me think and burn excess anxiety.” — Chad

“I try to remind myself that all terrible things that are about to happen to me only exist in my head and I don’t know everything and tomorrow’s problems can wait until tomorrow. If that fails, I breathe out. Hard.” — Pat

“I have realized that having great friends who support and understand me is of big importance, especially during the tough moments. I know I would NOT be able to accomplish great things without great people in my life.” — Victor

“When things get crazy, I have to stop myself, take a deep breath, and try to remember what’s important vs. what my emotions are telling me to react to. When I’m able to reach that quiet moment, there’s a powerful clarity. That’s when I know I can take on anything.” — Shelley